Pump



J. BIRD Nov. 20, 1934.

PUMP

Filed June 17, 1932 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR John C. Bird lw zf /e I A'r'roRNEYg Nov. 20, 1934. I J. c. BIRD 1,981,025

PUMP

Fi1ed June 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ci hn C. Bird ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP John 0. Bird, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Union Mich.

Steam Pump Company, Battle Creek,

7 Application June 17, 1932, Serial No. 617,717

14 Claims.

This invention relates to my application for Letters Patent for Pumps, Serial No. 508,042 filed January 12, 1931 and my Patent No. 1,909,517 issued May 16, 1933, and the pump here illustrated shows certain modifications of the structures there shown.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved centrifugal pump.

Second, to provide such a pump for use when the liquid to be pumped is mixed with gas.

Third, to provide such a pump in which the liquid that has been pumped and separated from any entrained gas is used for priming.

Fourth, to provide such a pump with a unique priming port.

Fifth, to provide such a pump with means to facilitate the pumping action.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of a pump embodying the features of my invention taken on line 1-1 of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of such a pump taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation of the pump shown in Fig. 1 taken on line 3--3 of Figs.

1 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pump shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the impeller.

Referring to the drawings, the pump casing is represented as 1 and has a hand hole 2 with a cover 3 pivoted on the bolt 4 and having a por-' tion 5 adapted to be engaged by a bolt 6. An intake opening 7 is provided for connection to a suitable supply pipe 8.

A foraminous element 9 is provided for separating foreign matter from the liquid that is being pumped. This is a steel element that is cast into the pump casing 1 as illustrated.

A passage 10 leads from the intake 7 to an intake passage 11 that discharges into the eye 17 of the impeller 12. A baffle 13 extends from the bottom of the passage 11 radially thereof and substantially to the drive shaft 14 of the impeller. This baffle also extends substantially to the side of the impeller 12.

The impeller 12 has thereon curved vanes 15 closely spaced so as to form restricted passages 16 therebetween. These passages are more reself -priming stricted than usual and the vanes are more numerous than in the ordinary centrifugal pump of this type. The direction of the curvature of the vanes is in the directionof the rotation of the impeller, which is in a clockwise direction in Figs. 2 and 3.

The impeller is such that the vanes of the external portion thereof are capable of handling a larger quantity of liquid than can pass through the eye 1'? of the impeller. This provision is made so that the vanes will readily handle any liquid admitted to the impeller through the priming port, as will be described, to avoid, the reduction of the capacity of the pump in handling the liquid passing through the impeller eye.

The impeller 12 revolves in a chamber 18 and discharges into a volute 19. The volute increases in cross section from the center to the outside as is usualin constructions of this type of pump and may be of any desired shape of cross section. At the discharge 22 from the volute, the walls diverge to form an upwardly facing enlarged discharge opening. A dam 23 is formed by the side wall of the volute and the wall 20. Most of the liquid discharged from the volute flows over the side wall of the volute as shown by arrows in Fig. 3, but some flows over the wall 20.

Above the discharge opening 22 is a separation chamber 24. A passageway 25 leads from the discharge 22 of the volute and chamber 24 through the bottom of the casing 1 and past the chamber 18 and the intake passage 11 and leads to a discharge 26 wherein is a suitable discharge pipe 2'7. An air outlet 124 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 is provided in chamber 24 and leads to discharge passage 26. Air separated out in chamber 24 passes out because of the difference in pressure in chamber 24 and discharge 26.

The passage 25 is restricted at the portion 125 thereof. This is to form a passage through which the liquid will pass at a considerable velocity to wash out sediment which will settle at the portion 125, it being the bottom of the pump casing. Leading from the passage 25 at the portion 125 thereof to the wall of the chamber 18 is a passage 28', and a key-hole-shaped port 29 communicates from this passage to the chamber 18 and discharges against the side of the vanes 15 of the impeller 12.

The enlarged portion of the port 20 is in the direction of the center of the impeller and the narrower portion is in the direction of the periphery of the impeller. This slot has been found to be very effective: but any slot would be ef-.

fe tive, and any slot that was wider at the porpeller and narrowed at the portion in the direction of the periphery thereof would be advantageous.

The impeller 12 is mounted on a drive shaft 14 journaled in a bearing 30. A collar 31 is provided in the end of the shaft to form a thrust bearing with a cap 32. The drive shaft 14 extends through the casing 1, passing through the intake passage 11, and passes through a stuffing box 33 having a packing 34 and a gland 35 which is attached to the casing by bolts 36; nuts 37 and springs 38. v I

I have illustrated means for connecting the drive shaft 14 to a drive shaft of larger size if desired. 39 is a bushing having an opening 40 to receive the drive shaft 14 and an opening 41 to receive the drive shaft 42 of a different size than the shaft 14. Holes 43 and 44 are tapped in the bushing 39 to receive set screws, not shown. The shafts are keyed in the bushing 39.

At the bottom of the casing 1, I provide a clean-out port 45 tapped to receive the screw plug 46 having an auxiliary screw plug 47-tapped therein. A clean-out screw plug 48 is also provided and a tapped clean-out hole 49 is provided for the screw plug 50 having an auxiliary screw plug 51 therein. This clean-out opens to a sump 52 located in the intakepassage 10 to receive any large pieces of foreign material that may be carried by the pump past the foraminous element 9. For initially priming the pump, a screw plug 53 is provided in the cover 3.

In operation, the pump is primed by filling the casing 1 with liquid to the lower edge of the intake portion 7. This is done through screw plug 53 or port 2. The pump is then started and the rotating impeller 12 acts upon the liquid in chamber 18, forcing it out through the volute. The liquid follows the course indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 3 and discharges over the dam 23 into the passage 25. Mostof the liquid discharges over the side wall of the discharge 22. The liquid passes through the restricted portion 125 of passage 25 and thence to the discharge port 26 of the pump. As the priming liquid is pumped out through the discharge port, the pump begins to take in air through the intake port 7. As the pump creates a vacuum to take in this air, a ring of liquid is formed in the impeller chamber. The centrifugal force of the swirling liquid tends to create a vacuum in the inlet of the pump and the pressure at the periphery of the ring formed in the impeller chamber tends to hold the liquid back against the centrifugal action. When this situation is reached in the impeller chamher, the liquid passing through the restricted the volute.

portion of passage 25 passes through the keyhole port 29 and discharges into the impeller chamber against the side of the impeller. The pressure in the impeller chamber being less than that outside, the liquid squirts into the chamber and entrains the air that is confined within the revolving ring and carries it to the ring where by centrifugal force some of the liquid in the ring and some .of the air are thrown out through As a higher vacuum is formed within the revolving ring in the impeller chamber, the external pressure is such that a thicker revolving ring is formed. The liquid discharged from the volute continues to free itself from the entering the port 29 at the inner surface of the revolving ring in the impeller chamber and also indicate that when the ring has become of such thickness that it is taking in the narrowed portion of the key-hole port 29, a larger amount of priming liquid should be introduced at the inside of the ring. This is accomplished by the enlarged portion of the key-hole port 29.

During the priming action, very little liquid is discharged through the passage 26. The priming liquid in the pump merelyv recirculates as above described until the air is exhausted from the pump and the intake pipe 8. When the air 18 exhausted and the pump fully primed so that it is not pumping air, the greater portion of the discharged liquid passing through the passage 25 and the restricted portion thereof, 125, passes through the discharge passage 26.

Tests indicate that very little of the fluid pass- The vanes are formed as above described with restricted passages 16 therebetween. Thisfeature is important in priming because when the liquid with entrained air is forced through these passages 16 by centrifugal action, the restricted nature of the passages forces the liquid to flow substantially directly through the passage without any eddy currents. This does not allow the air to separate and flow back to the center as it would normally do under centrifugal action. The liquid with the entrained air passes through the volute and as it flows over the dam 23 the velocity is reduced because of the enlarged opening so that the entrained air separates out in chamber 24. The separated air then passes through port 124 to the discharge passage 26 and the liquid that circulates past the port 29 through passage 25 is substantially free from air and is effective in priming. The air flows through the port 124 because cf the fact that the pressure in the chamber 24 is greater than that in the discharge passage 26.

The passage25 is restricted at the portion 125 whereit passes the lower wall of the casing 1. This being the low point in the pump, any sediment would collect there, but the restriction at l If at any time the suction line of the pump is taken from the liquid to be pumped, so that air enters the port 7, the priming action as heretofore described continues and when the suction line is again immersed in the liquid the pump soon resumes operation.

The baffle 13 is of value in increasing the priming action. When the pump is operating on a mixture of air and liquid, it has'been found that the centrifugal action of the impeller starts a vortex in the passage 11 with the lighter air revolving in the center and'the heavier liquid revolving at the outside so that only a small film of liquid enters the eye of the impeller. The baflle 13 breaks upany such action and continues to speed up the priming action.

The use of the key-hole opening with the enlarged portion toward the axis of the impeller has been found to be more effective than any other type of opening. I believe that any port with the narrower portion toward the periphery of the impeller and the wider portion toward the center thereof would be more effective than a straight port.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wish to claim the same specifically and also broadly, as pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, an intake passage, a baffle in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller and having vanes forming restricted passageways, said vanes being adapted to handle more liquid than can pass through said eye, a volute surrounding said impeller and having an upwardly facing enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separation chamber above said opening, a p to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, said passageway being restricted at the bottom of said casing, a key-hole port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and openin against the side of the impeller and having its enlarged portion in the direction of the eye of the impeller, and a discharge.

2. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, an intake passage, a baffle in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller and having vanes forming restricted passageways, said vanes being adapted to handle more liquid than can pass through said eye, a volute surrounding said impeller and having an enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separation chamber above said opening, a port to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, said passageway being restricted at the bottom of said casing, a key-hole port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its enlarged portion in the direction of the eye of the impeller, and a discharge.

3. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, an intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a bafile in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller and having vanes forming restricted passageways, a V0- lute surrounding said impeller and having an enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separation chamber above said opening, a port to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, a key-hole priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its enlarged portion in the direction of the eye of the impeller, and a discharge.

4. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a baflie in said passage, an

impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller and having vanes forming restricted passageways, a volute surrounding said impeller and having an enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separation chamber above said opening, a port to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, said-passageway being restricted at the bottom of said casing, a priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller, and a discharge.

5. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a bafile in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impellerand having an enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separationcham ber above said opening, a port to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, said passageway being restricted at the bottom of said casing, a key-hole priming port extending substantially radially and communieating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its enlarged portion in the direction of the eye of the impeller, and a discharge. a

6. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a bafile in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller and having an enlarged discharge opening to decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid in the pump, a separation chamber above said opening, a port to discharge air from said separation chamber, a passageway to carry liquid from said opening along the bottom of the casing, said passageway being restricted at the bottom of said casing, a priming port communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller, and a discharge. '7. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a bafile in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller, a discharge passageway to carry liquid from said volute along the bottom of the casing, said passage being restricted at the bottom of the casing,'a port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its portion in the direction of the center of the impeller of greater capacity than its portion in the direction of the periphery of the impeller, and a discharge.

8. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a baflle in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller, a passageway to carry liquid from said volute along the bottom of the casing, a priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller vanes and having its portion in the direction of the center of the impeller of greater capacity than its portion in the direction of the periphery of 'the impeller, and a discharge 9. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, avbaflle in said passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller, a passageway to carry liquid from said volute, a separate opening priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its portion in the direction of the center of the impeller of greater capacity than its portion in the direction of the periphery of the impeller, and a discharge.

10. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a cas- -ing, an intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller, a discharge passageway to carry liquid from said volute along the bottom of the casing, said passage being restricted at the bottom of the easing, a priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller and having its portion in the direction of the center of the impeller of greater capacity than its portion in the direction of the periphery of the impeller, and a discharge.

11. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a casing, anintake passage opening into the center of the impeller, an impeller chamber, an impeller having an eye for the admission of liquid to said impeller, a volute surrounding said impeller, a passageway to carry liquid from said volute, a priming port extending substantially radially and communicating with said passage and opening against the side of the impeller vanes and having its portion in the direction of the center of the impeller of greater capacity than its portion in the direction of the periphery of the impeller, and a discharge.

12. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, a bafile extending radially in said intake passage, an impeller chamber, an impeller having varies, a volute surrounding said impeller, a discharge from said volute, a passageway for said liquid from said discharge, a priming port opening against the side of the vanes of the impeller at a point between the intake and the periphery of the impeller and communicating with said passageway, and a discharge opening to discharge liquid from the pump.

13. A self-priming centrifugal pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center ,of the impeller, means in said intake passage to break up swirling of fluid therein, an impeller chamber, an impeller having vanes, a volute surrounding said impeller, a discharge from said volute, a passageway for said liquid from said discharge, a priming port opening against the side of the vanes of the impeller at a point be-' tween the intake and the periphery of the impeller and communicating with said passageway, and a discharge opening to discharge liquid from the pump.

14. 'A centrifugal .pump having a casing, a single intake passage opening into the center of the impeller, an impeller chamber, an impeller having vanes, a volute surrounding said impeller, means for separating air from the liquid coming from the volute, a restricted discharge passageway for said liquid along the bottom of said casing, a priming port opening against the side of the vanes of the impeller at a point spaced from the intakes to the impeller and communicating with said passageway, and a discharge opening to discharge liquid from the pump.

- JOHN C. BIRD. 

